---
title: Cheapest AI Video API — Plans from $21/mo | ModelsLab
description: The cheapest AI video generation API in 2026. Plans from $21/month for 3,250 calls. Kling, Veo, Wan, Seedance and Minimax behind one REST endpoint, priced per call.
url: https://modelslab.com/cheapest-ai-video-api
canonical: https://modelslab.com/cheapest-ai-video-api
type: website
component: Seo/CheapestAiVideoApi
generated_at: 2026-09-16T12:42:04.905606Z
---
Imagen
Cheapest AI Video API for Developers
---
Video generation from $21/month for 3,250 API calls. Open-weight models run on our own GPUs and are covered by your plan; premium models like Kling and Veo are priced per call, shown up front.
[Get Started — $21/Month](https://modelslab.com/register) [API Documentation](https://docs.modelslab.com)
What Actually Drives AI Video Cost
---
### The Model Sets the Price, Not the Platform
Video is the most expensive thing to generate with AI, and most "cheapest video API" comparisons hide where the money goes. The cost of a clip is driven by the model, the resolution and the duration — not by which platform you call it through. A 10-second 1080p clip from a premium model costs real GPU time no matter who bills you for it.
ModelsLab is honest about the split. Eight open-weight video models run on our own GPUs and are covered by your plan, so generating with them costs you an API call and nothing more. Ninety-one premium third-party models — Kling, Veo, Minimax, Runway, Seedance, Vidu, Tencent and others — are billed per call from wallet balance, because we are billed per call for them too.
### Why That Makes the $21 Plan Genuinely Cheap
The Basic plan is $21/month for 3,250 API calls. Spend those calls on open-weight models and you can prototype, iterate and ship without touching wallet balance at all. Here is what a plan reaches:
- Text-to-video and image-to-video on one REST endpoint
- Video-to-video restyling and scene creation
- 8 open-weight video models covered by your plan
- 91 premium third-party models available per call
- Prompt, duration, aspect ratio and motion controls
- Async job submission with a fetch endpoint for results
- Standard plan at $47/month for 10,000 calls
- One API key shared with image, speech and LLM
What Each Plan Costs
---
Video plans are billed per API call. What a call costs you depends on whether the model runs on our GPUs or a provider's.
| Plan | Price / Month | API Calls | Rate Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic (best entry point) | $21 | 3,250 | 5 req/s |
| Standard | $47 | 10,000 | 10 req/s |
| Unlimited Premium | $199 | Unlimited open-weight | 15 req/s |
ModelsLab video plan pricing, verified against the plans table in August 2026. Unlimited applies to the 8 open-weight video endpoints ModelsLab self-hosts. The 91 third-party video endpoints (Kling, Veo, Minimax, Runway, Seedance, Vidu, Tencent and others) are billed per call from wallet balance on any plan — they are not included in unlimited.
Generate Video in One Request
---
Text-to-video and image-to-video on the same key.
### Text to video on an open-weight model (Python)
Python
```
1import requests
2
3response = requests.post(
4 "https://modelslab.com/api/v7/video-fusion/text-to-video",
5 headers={
6 "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_MODELSLAB_API_KEY",
7 "Content-Type": "application/json",
8 },
9 json={
10 # wan2.2 and ltx-2.3 run on ModelsLab GPUs — covered by your plan
11 "model_id": "wan2.2",
12 "prompt": "a paper boat drifting down a rain-soaked gutter, macro shot",
13 "duration": 5,
14 "aspect_ratio": "16:9",
15 },
16)
17
18# Long renders return an id — poll the fetch endpoint for the result
19print(response.json())
```
### Image to video (Python)
Python
```
1import requests
2
3response = requests.post(
4 "https://modelslab.com/api/v7/video-fusion/image-to-video",
5 headers={
6 "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_MODELSLAB_API_KEY",
7 "Content-Type": "application/json",
8 },
9 json={
10 "model_id": "wan2.2",
11 "prompt": "slow orbit around the product, soft studio light",
12 # init_image is a list, even for a single frame
13 "init_image": ["https://example.com/product-shot.jpg"],
14 "duration": 5,
15 },
16)
17
18print(response.json())
```
### Poll for a finished render (JavaScript)
JavaScript
```
1const headers = {
2 'Content-Type': 'application/json',
3 Authorization: 'Bearer YOUR_MODELSLAB_API_KEY',
4};
5
6// The fetch endpoint takes the request id as the last path segment.
7const fetchUrl = (id) =>
8 'https://modelslab.com/api/v7/video-fusion/fetch/REQUEST_ID'.replace(
9 'REQUEST_ID',
10 id,
11 );
12
13const submit = await fetch(
14 'https://modelslab.com/api/v7/video-fusion/text-to-video',
15 {
16 method: 'POST',
17 headers,
18 body: JSON.stringify({
19 model_id: 'wan2.2',
20 prompt: 'timelapse of a city square at dusk',
21 duration: 5,
22 aspect_ratio: '16:9',
23 }),
24 },
25);
26
27const { id, output } = await submit.json();
28
29// Already done? Use it. Otherwise poll the fetch endpoint by id.
30let video = output?.[0];
31while (!video) {
32 const poll = await fetch(fetchUrl(id), { method: 'POST', headers });
33 video = (await poll.json()).output?.[0];
34}
35
36console.log(video);
```
Ship Video in 3 Steps
---
Prototype on open-weight models, spend per call only where it counts.
STEP 01
STEP 01
### Step 1: Sign Up
Create a ModelsLab account, subscribe to the $21/month Basic video plan, and copy your API key from the dashboard.
STEP 02
STEP 02
### Step 2: Prototype on Open-Weight Models
POST a prompt to the text2video endpoint with an open-weight model\_id. These run on ModelsLab GPUs and cost one API call from your plan — no wallet balance needed while you iterate.
STEP 03
STEP 03
### Step 3: Add Premium Models Where Quality Pays
Switch model\_id to Kling, Veo, Seedance or Minimax for hero shots. Those are billed per call from wallet balance, so you spend premium budget only on the clips that ship.
[Get API Key ](https://modelslab.com/register)
Related video guides
---
[### Best AI Video API 2026
Full comparison beyond price — model quality, duration limits, and latency.](https://modelslab.com/best-ai-video-api-2026) [### Text to Video API
Endpoint reference for generating video from a text prompt.](https://modelslab.com/text-to-video-api) [### Image to Video API
Animate a still image into video through one REST call.](https://modelslab.com/image-to-video-api) [### AI Video API
Every video endpoint on one key: text, image, video and audio inputs.](/ai-video-api) [### Lip Sync API
Match mouth movement to a new audio track for dubbing.](/lip-sync-api) [### Seedance API
Seedance 2.5, 2.0 and 1.5 Pro priced per call, no Ark account.](/seedance-api)
### Why We Do Not Advertise "Unlimited Video"
The $199/month plan does say unlimited, and it is — for the eight open-weight video models ModelsLab self-hosts. It does not cover the premium third-party models, and we would rather say so on this page than let you discover it after subscribing. Ninety-one of the ninety-nine active video endpoints are third-party.
If your pipeline runs mostly on open-weight video, the unlimited plan removes per-call cost entirely and is the cheapest way to run at volume. If it runs mostly on Kling or Veo, a metered plan plus wallet balance will cost less than paying for unlimited access you cannot use.
### How to Actually Keep Video Costs Down
Generate drafts at low frame counts and short durations, then re-render only the take you keep at full settings. Most of the spend in a video pipeline goes on versions nobody ships.
Route by job rather than picking one model for everything. Bulk, background and draft renders belong on open-weight models covered by your plan; premium third-party models are worth their per-call price for the handful of clips that face the customer. One endpoint and one key handle both, so routing is a change to model\_id and nothing else.
Why Developers Start at $21
---
Key advantages that set us apart
Plans from $21/month for 3,250 API calls
Standard at $47/month for 10,000 calls
8 open-weight video models covered by your plan
91 premium third-party models available per call
Per-call third-party pricing shown up front, not hidden
Text-to-video, image-to-video and video-to-video on one endpoint
Async submission with a fetch endpoint for long renders
No cold starts on self-hosted models
One API key across image, video, speech and LLM
Unlimited open-weight video at $199/month
Our Popular Use Cases
What teams build with low-cost video generation:
Product Video at ScaleSocial Ad VariationsStoryboard and Animatic PreviewsLocalised Video MarketingBackground and B-Roll GenerationPrototyping Before a Model Commitment
Animate existing product stills into short loops for listings and ads. Draft on open-weight models, then re-render the winners on a premium model.
Cheapest AI Video API FAQ
---
ModelsLab video plans start at $21/month for 3,250 API calls, with Standard at $47/month for 10,000 calls. Generating with the open-weight video models ModelsLab self-hosts costs one API call from your plan and nothing more. Premium third-party models such as Kling and Veo are billed per call from wallet balance on top of the plan.
### Is the $199/month plan unlimited for every video model?
No, and we would rather be direct about it. The $199/month plan gives unlimited generation on the 8 open-weight video models ModelsLab self-hosts. The 91 third-party endpoints — Kling, Veo, Minimax, Runway, Seedance, Vidu, Tencent and others — are billed per call from wallet balance on any plan, because those providers bill us per call.
The open-weight video models ModelsLab runs on its own GPUs are covered by your plan calls. Third-party models are listed with their own per-call price so you can see the cost before you send the request.
A video is many frames plus temporal consistency work, so a single clip uses far more GPU time than a single image. That is why per-call video pricing varies by model, resolution and duration, while image generation on ModelsLab is a flat $0.0047 regardless of model.
ModelsLab is a paid service. Video plans start at $21/month for 3,250 API calls. Creating an account is free, but generating video requires an active plan.
### How do I keep video generation costs low?
Draft at low frame counts and short durations on open-weight models covered by your plan, then re-render only the take you are shipping at full settings on a premium model. Switching between the two is a change to model\_id — the endpoint and key stay the same.
Yes. Text-to-video, image-to-video and video-to-video all sit behind the same REST API and draw on the same plan calls, and the same key also covers image, speech and LLM generation.
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---
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Chat with support[View Docs](https://docs.modelslab.com)
ModelsLab video plans start at $21/month for 3,250 API calls, with Standard at $47/month for 10,000 calls. Generating with the open-weight video models ModelsLab self-hosts costs one API call from your plan and nothing more. Premium third-party models such as Kling and Veo are billed per call from wallet balance on top of the plan.
No. The $199/month plan gives unlimited generation on the 8 open-weight video models ModelsLab self-hosts. The 91 third-party video endpoints — Kling, Veo, Minimax, Runway, Seedance, Vidu, Tencent and others — are billed per call from wallet balance on any plan, because those providers bill us per call.
The open-weight video models ModelsLab runs on its own GPUs, which are the Wan and LTX families, are covered by your plan calls. Third-party models are listed with their own per-call price so the cost is visible before you send the request.
A clip is many frames plus the work of keeping them consistent, so one video uses far more GPU time than one image. That is why per-call video pricing varies by model, resolution and duration, while image generation on ModelsLab is a flat $0.0047 across every model.
ModelsLab is a paid service. Video plans start at $21/month for 3,250 API calls. Creating an account is free, but generating video requires an active plan.
Draft at short durations on open-weight models covered by your plan, then re-render only the take you are shipping at full settings on a premium model. Switching between them is a change to model_id — the endpoint and API key stay the same.
Yes. Text-to-video, image-to-video and video-to-video sit behind the same REST API and draw on the same plan calls, and the same key also covers image, speech and LLM generation.
Explore Our Other Solutions
---
Unlock your creative potential and scale your business with ModelsLab's comprehensive suite of AI-powered solutions.
[Imagen
### AI Image Generation & Tools
Generate, edit, upscale, and transform images with state-of-the-art AI models.
Explore Imagen](https://modelslab.com/imagen) [Audio Gen
### AI Audio Generation
Text-to-speech, voice cloning, music generation, and audio processing APIs.
Explore Audio Gen](https://modelslab.com/audio-gen) [Chat
### Engage Seamlessly with LLM
Access powerful language models for chatbots, content generation, and AI assistants.
Explore Chat](https://modelslab.com/custom-llm) [3D Verse
### Create Stunning 3D Models
Transform images and text into 3D models with advanced AI-powered generation.
Explore 3D Verse](https://modelslab.com/text-to-3d)
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---
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[Explore Plugins](https://modelslab.com/pro#plugins) [Learn More](https://modelslab.com/pro)
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---
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## Frequently Asked Questions
### What is the cheapest AI video generation API in 2026?
ModelsLab video plans start at $21/month for 3,250 API calls, with Standard at $47/month for 10,000 calls. Generating with the open-weight video models ModelsLab self-hosts costs one API call from your plan and nothing more. Premium third-party models such as Kling and Veo are billed per call from wallet balance on top of the plan.
### Is the $199/month video plan unlimited for every model?
No. The $199/month plan gives unlimited generation on the 8 open-weight video models ModelsLab self-hosts. The 91 third-party video endpoints — Kling, Veo, Minimax, Runway, Seedance, Vidu, Tencent and others — are billed per call from wallet balance on any plan, because those providers bill us per call.
### Which video models are included in my plan?
The open-weight video models ModelsLab runs on its own GPUs, which are the Wan and LTX families, are covered by your plan calls. Third-party models are listed with their own per-call price so the cost is visible before you send the request.
### Why is AI video more expensive than AI images?
A clip is many frames plus the work of keeping them consistent, so one video uses far more GPU time than one image. That is why per-call video pricing varies by model, resolution and duration, while image generation on ModelsLab is a flat $0.0047 across every model.
### Is there a free AI video API?
ModelsLab is a paid service. Video plans start at $21/month for 3,250 API calls. Creating an account is free, but generating video requires an active plan.
### How do I keep video generation costs down?
Draft at short durations on open-weight models covered by your plan, then re-render only the take you are shipping at full settings on a premium model. Switching between them is a change to model_id — the endpoint and API key stay the same.
### Can I use text-to-video and image-to-video on one plan?
Yes. Text-to-video, image-to-video and video-to-video sit behind the same REST API and draw on the same plan calls, and the same key also covers image, speech and LLM generation.
---
*This markdown version is optimized for AI agents and LLMs.*
**Links:**
- [Website](https://modelslab.com)
- [API Documentation](https://docs.modelslab.com)
- [Blog](https://modelslab.com/blog)
---
*Generated by ModelsLab - 2026-09-16*